William F. Hough

Bill Hough loved his family, his community, and his country. He dedicated a life of service to loved ones and strangers alike; always putting others above self, it was only fitting that he drew his last breath on this most patriotic of holidays.

Retired Waltham Firefighter William F. Hough, of Waltham, died on Independence Day, Sunday, July 4, 2021. He was 90 years old.

Bill was born in Waltham on November 24, 1930, one of ten children born to the late Francis P. and Mary R. (Flynn) Hough. Raised in Newton, he joined the National Guard at the age of 16. In 1951, he enlisted into the United States Army with his three best friends Johnny Brown, Norman Farrar, and Billy Berquist. When war broke out he was deployed and served as a staff sergeant during the Korean Conflict. There he led a 90mm Gunnery Team as part of the 78th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion.

Upon his return home from the service he became a firefighter in the City of Waltham in 1959. He enjoyed a twenty-six year long career on Engine 4 at the Prospect Street station. In addition to his work on the fire department, Bill supported his family running his own plumbing business for over 50 years.

In his younger years, he remained very active and was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed target-shooting and hunting, especially at his home in Deering, New Hampshire. He and his wife, Janice, were faithful communicants of Saint Mary's Church on School Street and were lifelong members of the parish. In addition, he was a proud member of the Waltham Firefighters Local 866.

While Bill's life was full of memories and adventure, his greatest adventure started in 1955 when he married the love of his life Janice Camuti and started a family. They were his source of joy, and the single most important thing to him. So when he passed away on Sunday morning he left knowing at least one thing . . . that he was so loved by a family that cherished him . . . and as hard as it was to say goodbye he would also tell you that he died the luckiest man on earth to have had them in his life.

In Heaven awaiting his arrival was his beloved wife, Janice, who died on October 9, 2003, and his sisters, the late Ellen Steele, Judy Whitney, Donna McLaughlin and Georgie Moon.

He leaves his daughters, Gail A. Prescott (Gregg) and Karen L. Gasdia (David), all of Wellesley, Lynn F. Polcari (Gerard) of Sudbury, and Dawn M. Fleming (Donald) of Waltham; his grandchildren, Brittany Bernard (James), Meridith Daigneault (Todd), Forrest and Taylor Gasdia, Cira and Vincent Polcari, and Peyton and Declan Fleming; his great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Amelia Bernard; and his siblings, Margaret Whalen, Patricia Stefanik, both of Marlborough, Ralph E. Hough of Waltham, Nancy Colella of Sudbury and Marlene Walsh of Derry, New Hampshire. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, and their families.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bill's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, July 7th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Mass Audubon Society, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, Massachusetts 01773 or to the American Cancer Society, 3 Speen Street, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701. Links to donate can be found on the left hand side of this page.